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Worker killed in West Virginia coal mine

A worker was killed in an accident at a CONSOL mine in West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle, which has prompted an investigation from the state’s office of Miner’s Health, Safety, and Training. The worker suffered a head injury in the accident that occurred just before 1 pm on October 4th. The injured miner was taken to the hospital, but died en route.

Because of the worker injury, the Pennsylvania-based mining company opted to shut down the mine temporarily. According to a representative from CONSOL, the company is cooperating with both state and local authorities to investigate the cause of the fatal accident.

In 2012, seven of the 20 fatal coal mining accidents nationwide occurred in West Virginia. The number of coal mining fatalities so far in 2013 is 14 in the United States, six of which occurred in West Virginia. After four miners were killed in a two-week span earlier this year, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin called for coal companies to halt production long enough for safety inspections to be conducted.

As people in Charleston know all to well, coal mining can be a hazardous way to make a living. Unfortunately, no matter how safe a mine might be, the risk of a workplace accident will always exist. The risk increases dramatically when there are safety violations or if negligence is involved. If you or a loved one has been injured in a coal mining accident, a personal injury attorney who specializes in mining injuries may be able to help you get the compensation to which you are entitled.